Rydberg-atom manipulation through strong interaction with free electrons

TL;DR

This paper explores how free electrons can be used to manipulate Rydberg atoms with high spatial precision, enabling nondipolar transitions and entanglement, surpassing limitations of optical methods.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for using free electrons to induce nondipolar transitions in Rydberg atoms with subnanometer precision.

Findings

Single electrons can produce unity-order excitation probabilities.

Electron-beam shaping enables control over atomic states.

Potential for electron-induced entanglement with Rydberg atoms.

Abstract

Optically trapped Rydberg atoms are a suitable platform to explore quantum many-body physics mediated by long-range atom--atom interactions that can be engineered through externally applied light fields. However, this approach is limited to dipole-allowed transitions and a spatial resolution of the order of the optical wavelength. Here, we theoretically investigate the interaction between free electrons and individual Rydberg atoms as an approach to induce nondipolar transitions with subnanometer spatial precision and a substantial degree of control over the final atomic states. We observe unity-order excitation probabilities produced by a single electron for suitably chosen combinations of electron energies and electron-beam distance to the atom. We further discuss electron--atom entanglement in combination with lateral shaping of the electron followed by postselection. Our results support free electrons as powerful tools to manipulate Rydberg atoms in previously inaccessible ways.